THE 2020 SUPER rugby season has been brought forward to the last day in January, and will coincide with the Six Nations.
The opening weekend of the southern hemisphere club competition ordinarily kicks off in mid-February, but has been brought forward a fortnight and its opening weekend will coincide with the climax of tennis’ Australian Open as well as the jewel in the northern hemisphere rugby schedule.
With the Test window pushed to July, the 2020 Super Rugby tournament will also run off without a mid-season break, which has previous been a feature in non-World Cup years.
Organisers Sanzaar say that slightly earlier kick-off times will also help create and family friendly environment.
“We believe (this) will be widely welcomed by rugby fans and will give young families an opportunity to get out and enjoy the night at the rugby,” said Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle.
World Rugby have been working towards creating a ‘global season’, attempting to get southern and northern hemisphere nations syncing up their schedules for a sport both traditionally opt to play through the winter.
A proposed 12-nation cross-hemisphere competition for 2020 faced opposition from the Six Nations and the International Rugby Players Council voiced concerns over player welfare.
Last week, after his New Zealand side defeated Tonga 92-7, head coach Steve Hansen was asked if Pacific nations need more opportunities to play serious Tests to remain competitive.
“The problem that we’ve got is a calendar that doesn’t allow you to do that,” Hansen said.
“We have these wonderful ideas about growing the game but we don’t have an organisation at the top that wants to be strong enough to say ‘righto, this is what we’re doing, we’re going to have a global season.
The Six Nations rule world Test rugby programs. They don’t want to give that up and until they’re prepared to give that up, we’re not going to see any progress in that area.”
While the southern hemisphere club and northern hemisphere international tournaments begin on the same weekend, the disparity in time zones mean most matches will not clash in round one. However, the Six Nations opener between Wales and Italy (kick-off 14.15 Irish time) will get underway before the full-time hooter goes in the Stormers’ clash with the Hurricanes in Cape Town (13.05).
Ireland will open their Six Nations campaign under Andy Farrell later that day against Scotland (16.45).
The 25th season of Super Rugby will be the last under the conference system as Japan’s Sunwolves, introduced in a bid to grow the game across Asia, will be disbanded after the season.
With the warm-up games out of the way, Murray, Bernard and Gavan discuss the renewed cause for optimism, impressive individual player form, and a potential quarter-final versus either South Africa or New Zealand.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
LeBron is definitely the best player in the NBA this year. Harden puts up great highlights and is unbelievably skillful but not a better player this year.
@kevcrowley: is that why Curry wipes the floor with him in the finals… you know, the part of the season that matters?
@Jonathan Nolan: curry wasn’t even Finals mvp , and in the finals the last two years it’s been pretty much 4 v 1 with a bit of Kevin Love and Kyrie last year
@Jonathan Nolan: curry can blow hot and cold beteeen quarters and have Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson take over scoring. James played every minute nearly and has huge defensive responsibility on top. No comparison with Curry
@kevcrowley: every minute??!! Is that why he was on the bench or sitting at the side of the clock for 20 minutes per game 2 & 3?
@Aidan Holden: is that Curry’s daily for having a team around him?
@kevcrowley: bottom line is LeBum James only has as many rings as Larry Bird, yet he’s been in almost twice as many finals. The guy has skills, but he’s a chump. At the end of a career it’s rings that are the legacy, and LeBum will be hard pressed getting another one
@Jonathan Nolan: do you think calling him LeBum makes you sound smart and reasonable?
@Jonathan Nolan: well in that case a ‘chump’ is the 2nd greatest player of all time
@Jonathan Nolan: your opinion on basketball is complete rubbish I’ve seen all the top players in the league play live and LeBron is superior than every single one of them
Instead of calling people bums take the time to actually watch them play basketball in the flesh before you talk
Your opinion is complete rubbish
@Aidan Holden: after Larry Bird and Magic Johnson? Aren’t you forgetting about Jordan?
@Barry McCarthy: No, would be the answer to that one Barry. It’s just my opinion. He’s the most over hyped player in NBA history. You are entitled to your own opinion. Fair enough
@Jonathan Nolan: MJ number 1 LBJ number 2
Should’ve won it in 2011 but This year Harden was a fair choice
@Ruairi Doyle: in 2011 he wasn’t starting and averaged about 10 ppg what?
4-0 says it all. And LeBum was the one with 4 x L’s against his name at seasons end
@Jonathan Nolan: weird
@Jonathan Nolan: 4-0 says absolutely nothing since its REGULAR SEASON MVP.